Motor car



J'. L. coNNoRs MOTOR CAR Filed Marsh 14, 1927 March 6, 1928.

'A i 27K] 34- 522s M612 Y I n 2102556' v Patented Mar. 6, 1928.

j UNITED As'rarl-is `l'A'rENT oF Fics- JOHN CONN ORS, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNR TO MORGAN-GARDNER ELECTRIC COMPANY, 0F HARVEY, ILLINOIS. y

MOTOR CAR.

Application led March 14, 1927.- SerialNo. 175,237.1

This invention relates more specifically to a `motor kdriven car Vor light locomotive which is intendedfor use in andabout mines. Coal mines are usuall or frequently equippedwith electric rai ways, electric mining machines, loading machines, and various other machines or apparatus which may require more or less expert attention so that it becomes necessary for men having thecare of such-machinery to go from one point to another-around the mine. The present vehicle or power driven car is particularly intended to expedite such service and to provide means whereby men may quickly move from one part vof the mine to another and may also carry the necessary tools and repair parts or the like.

The objects ofthis invention are to provide an improved light power driven car or locomotive for use in mines or the like; to provide acar of t-his character which is exceedingly light and `which may be removed from the track or placed thereon by twomen; to provide a novel form of car `construction whereb the body may have sufficient inherent exibility so that the wheels and axles may be rigidly secured thereto and sothat the car will operate satisfactorily overthe usual-mine tracks which `are frequently inore Vor less uneven; to

provide a light mine locomotivek or car having a top or'platform formed of wood or insulating material; to' provide a light ear of this character-having novel operating and controlling mechanism; and to provide such other novel features of construction as will appearmore fully from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings illustrat-` ing? this invention; j f

,igurel is a plan Vview with parts broken away 'to show the interiorconstruction;'-

Figure 2 is `a -side view with one of the `front ywheels removed;

Y FiUuresB and 4 are details Vof the frame and bearing construction; and

` Figures y5, 6 and 7 are details showing the motor mounting and brake mechanism.

The .vehicle frame is formed of longitudinal channel bars or plates 8 and any suitable number of cross plates, such as 9, 10

`and 11, all of these frame members being preferably made of comparatively light sheet steel of approximately one-eighth `of an inch `in thickness.v These frame memf .in order to prevent friction.

provide outwardly extending lower projec-4 i tions 12 and 13 to provide steps or p atforms at either end of the car. These platforms are preferably covered with boards, as shown at lfivand 15, and the top of theV car is covered with boards or plates 16, these parts being preferably made of wood which not only provides insulation in thek event that a workman onthe car comes in contact with a live wire butalso provides means whereby electric machinery or other devices may be conveniently transported without being injured.` l f VThe car is provided with two axles 17 and 18, and with wheels 19 and 20. The axle 17 is mounted in bearings '21 and lis preferably provided with balls or rollers The bearing blocks 21 fit against the lower iianges of the side `plates or frame members 8 and are provided with slots 22y for receiving the fastenin bolts 23.` These bolts preferably extend t rough the upper and lower flanges of the side plates and also through the platvform 16 and have spreader pipes 24 between the fianges so that when the bolts are tightcned, the bearing blocks will beheld in adjusted` position and, vfurthermore "the strains'will be divided between the flanges and somev of the'load may also be takenv bythe boards of the platform. These beari-ngs may be adjusted longitudinall of the frame; by Ameans' of screws 251wh1ch pass through lugs or brackets 26 on the side --plates and are held bymeansv of adjusting' a chain 32 passing over a sprocket 33 .on the axle 17. It is also provided with `a second sprocket 34 which drives a chain 35 passing over a sprocket 36` on the axle 18. `By means l of this arrangement both `of the axles are driven and the chains may be adjusted withthe axle adjusting devices heretofore` described in order to keep them properly tightened.

The motor shaft is also provided with a brake wheel 87 which is engaged by a brake band 38. This band is actuated by a brake rod 39 which passes through two supports or projections 40 and 41. One end 4Q ot the brake hand engages with the rod 39 and is adapted to bear again the projection 4l. The other end 43 engages with or is secured to a sleeve 44 on the rod 39, this sleeve passing through a hole in the projection 40. Adjusting nuts 45 and 46 on the rod 39 engage with the ends ot' the sleeve 44 in order to adjust the sleeve and end of the brake band with respect to the rod. The ends ot the band are held in brake releasingl position by a spring 47, one end ot which engages with the end 42 ot the brake band and the other end with the nut 46 so that this spring also serves to move the brake rod 39 to the left or releasing position, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The front end of the rod 39 passes through the frame plate 10 and is pivoted to an operating cam 48 which is actuated by a handle 49. This cam has a flat spot 50 on one side which is arranged so that when the handle is in raised position the brake will be locked. The opposite side of the cam has a projecting portion 51 so that when the lever or handle 49 is pressed downwardly, the tension on the brake may be increased to any desired degree. The motor car has the usual trolley pole 52 and suitable connections for conducting electricity from the trolley t-O the motor 30 and is provided with a controller 53 which is preferably of the reversible type so that the car may he fully controlled by means ot one handle. The ear is preferably provided with a portable lantern-type headlight 54 which is mounted with a removable plug so that an extension cord may be attached to permit the lantern to be moved to illuminate the work. A `large tool box 55 is arranged at one end of the body so that the cover 56 forms a part ot the platform 16.

From this description it will be seen that I provide a motor car which may be made very light and when provided with anti-friction bearings for the axles requires very little power to drive the same or to be pushed along by hand. Furthermore, the device may be driven at suiiiciently high speed so that the workmen or machinists may be rapidly taken from one part of a mine to another and may take suiiicient tools or parts with them for any ordinary repair job. lt will be particularly noted that the I'iexible construction oi the car body permits the axles to he attached rigidly thereto and thereby avoids the necessity of springs and also p'eriniits the car to be made very low so that it may be operated in mines having low roofs. Changes may be iliade in the details of construction or in the arrangement ot' the parts in order to adapt the motor car for different conditions or uses, and therefore I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction herein shown and described. except as speciied in the Vfollowing claims. in which `l claim:

l. Au electric motor Iar comprising a Yframe having the main longitudinal and transverse members formed oi: sheet steel, two pairs ol wheels and axles adjnstably secured vdirectly to the trame, a motor mounted on the frame, means :for driving both pairs of wheels and axles from the motor, and a covering formed o1' wood or the like for the top of the frame.

2. A motor car comprising a metal body having a flat wooden .top decir, journal boxes slidably secured to the bottom of the body, means tor adjustingr said boxes longitudinally ot the frame, wheels and axles mounted in said boxes, a motor mounted in the body, sprocket wheels and chains for driving the wheels and axles from the mot-or, a trolley having supporting means, and means 'for conducting eleclr-icit7 to the motor, and a controller for controlling the current to the njiotor.

3. An electric speed car of the character set forth comprising a body formed substantia'lly ot sheet metal and having a wooden iop, journal boxes engaging with the lower side ot' the body and having slots therein, bolts passing through said slots and engaging with thc body rfor holding the boxes in adjusted position, screws connected with said boxes and passing through projections on the body, adjusting nuts for said screws to adjust the vboxes longitudinally of the body.y wheels and axles mounted in said journal boxes, a motor, means Afor driving the wheels and axles from the motor, and means for supplying and eruitrolling` current to said motor.

4. ln ya motor car, the combination with a channel-shaped 'frame ineanber, of a journal box having slots therein, bolts passing through said slots and through the top and bottom flanges ot the channel, and spreader pipes engaging with the bolts and with usaid top and bottom flanges.

5. The eongibination with a car frame having longitudinal side channels and having a wooden top, o t a journal box engaging with the bottom flange oi .the channel and having slots therein, bolts passing through said slots and the flanges of the channel and also through the wooden top, a projection on said channel. a screw engaging with the box and passing through said projection, and adjusting nuts on the screw which engage with the projection Afor adjusting the box longitudinally oi the channel.

6. A motor car of the character set forth,

lll

comprising a body having longitudinal channel-shaped side members formed of sheet steel and having cross members also formed of sheet steel, the end cross members having outwardly projecting lower portions to form platforms at either end of the body, a receptaele formed in the body, a `covering for the body formed of Wood or the like, one portion Y thereof providing a cover for said receptacle,

vvheels and axles for snpportingthe body, l0 Aan electric motor, means for driving the wheels and axles from the motor, a trolley pole mounted on the body, a controller mounted on the :front platform, and braking means coacting with the motor for stopping 15 or eontrolling the movement 'of the car.

l JOHN L. ooNNoRs. 1 

